Malloc
malloc is a C standard-library function that allocates a specified number of bytes of uninitialized storage and returns a pointer to it or a null pointer if allocation fails.
Modern C, Third Edition
malloc is a C library function that allocates a specified number of bytes of uninitialized storage and returns a pointer to it or a null pointer on failure.
- How it is used
- Allocates storage for variable-sized arrays and circular buffers when fixed-size arrays are too restrictive.
- How deep it goes
- Works through sizing, failure checks, and release constraints without describing allocator internals.
- Examples
- Uses a variable-sized double array, a string-copying strdup sketch, and a resizable circular buffer.
- What you can do after
- Practice/perform variable-sized allocation with null checks, initialization, and matching deallocation.
Modern C
malloc is the C standard library function that allocates a specified number of bytes of storage and returns a pointer to the storage or a null pointer on failure.
- How it is used
- Deploys malloc for storage whose size or lifetime must vary during execution.
- How deep it goes
- Explains byte sizing, void pointers, allocation pairing, and valid free arguments, but defers implementation internals.
- Examples
- Uses a vector of doubles sized for one element per living person and examines platform feasibility.
- What you can do after
- Apply malloc to allocate byte-sized storage and maintain its lifetime with a valid matching free.
Related concepts
- freeuses · free is a C standard-library function that releases dynamically allocated storage previously obtained from a compatible allocation function.
- callocalternative to · calloc is a C standard-library function that allocates contiguous storage for an array of elements and initializes all allocated bytes to zero.
- reallocincludes · realloc is a C standard-library function that changes the size of an allocated memory block while preserving its existing contents up to the applicable size.
- C standard libraryproduced by · The C standard library is the standardized collection of functions, macros, types, and related facilities provided for C programs.
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